Krakow (KRK) sees no direct US service. Every traveler routes through Warsaw, Munich, Frankfurt, Vienna, or another European hub first. The Krakow Old Town (UNESCO World Heritage), Wawel Castle, and the Auschwitz-Birkenau memorial make this one of Eastern Europe's most-visited cities. The connection via Warsaw on LOT is the cleanest single-airline path.
Connection routings to KRK
| Routing | Mile cost (each way business) | Cash YQ |
|---|---|---|
| JFK/EWR-WAW on LOT + WAW-KRK on LOT (free connection on award) | 63,000 LifeMiles + ~$25 (LifeMiles waives YQ) | ~$25 |
| JFK/EWR-WAW on LOT via Aeroplan + WAW-KRK | 70,000 Aeroplan + ~$120 LOT YQ | ~$120 |
| FRA/MUC-KRK on Lufthansa via Avianca LifeMiles | 63,000 LifeMiles + ~$25 | ~$25 |
| VIE-KRK on Austrian via Aeroplan | 70,000 Aeroplan + ~$280 Austrian YQ | ~$280 |
The Warsaw + Krakow combo
Most travelers visit both Warsaw and Krakow. Two routing strategies:
- Fly into KRK direct: LOT WAW-KRK as a connection on the same award ticket. Total cost: 63,000 LifeMiles + ~$25 each way for the round trip including the WAW-KRK connection.
- Fly into WAW + train: Fly into Warsaw, take 2.5-hour PKP Intercity train to Krakow (~€30). Save the cost of the WAW-KRK connection; gain a few hours of train-window views.
For travelers wanting maximum efficiency, route option 1 works. For travelers wanting flexibility and the train experience, route option 2 saves nothing on miles but adds train experience.
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Hotels in Krakow on points
- Sheraton Grand Krakow: Category 5, ~30,000-50,000 Bonvoy points/night, central Old Town location.
- Bonerowski Palace Hotel (Marriott Luxury Collection): Category 6, ~50,000-60,000 Bonvoy points/night, Old Town historic.
- Hilton Garden Inn Krakow: ~40,000-60,000 Hilton points/night.
- InterContinental Krakow: ~40,000-55,000 IHG points/night.
- Hyatt Regency Krakow (when available): Verify current category placement.
- Hotel Stary: Cash-only luxury (Marriott Luxury Collection).
The Auschwitz-Birkenau day trip
From Krakow, Auschwitz-Birkenau memorial is reached by:
- Tour bus from Krakow: 1.5 hours each way. ~$25-$40 per person, includes entry. Most-visited option.
- PKP train + bus: Train to Oświęcim, bus to memorial. ~$10 round-trip. Adventurous but doable.
- Drive: 1.5 hours each way. Rental car for the day.
The memorial requires advance ticket booking (free). Plan for a full day from Krakow.
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Bottom line
For most points travelers, Avianca LifeMiles via LOT Warsaw + connection to Krakow at 63,000 miles + ~$25 each way (round-trip 126,000 miles + ~$50 cash) is the cleanest path. The Sheraton Grand Krakow at Cat 5 (~30,000-50,000 Bonvoy points/night) is one of the best Old Town hotel-points values in Europe. Combine with Auschwitz-Birkenau day trip for a meaningful Polish history-and-points trip.
What is the cheapest way to fly to Krakow on points?
My pick is LOT through Avianca LifeMiles: JFK/EWR–Warsaw with the WAW–KRK leg as a free connection on the same award, 63,000 miles + ~$25 each way because LifeMiles waives the fuel surcharge. That is a round trip of about 126,000 miles + ~$50 cash. The same LOT routing on Aeroplan is 70,000 miles but adds ~$120 in LOT YQ.
Should I fly into Krakow or into Warsaw and take the train?
Both work on the same miles. Fly straight into KRK with the LOT WAW–KRK connection folded into the award, or fly into Warsaw and ride the 2.5-hour PKP Intercity train to Krakow (~€30). The train option saves nothing on miles but trades the connection for a few hours of window views — handy if you want to see both cities.
Which Krakow hotels are the best points value?
The Sheraton Grand Krakow (Marriott Category 5, ~30,000–50,000 Bonvoy points/night) is the standout for an Old Town base. The Bonerowski Palace (Luxury Collection, Category 6) runs ~50,000–60,000 Bonvoy points, and the InterContinental Krakow is ~40,000–55,000 IHG points/night.
How do I visit Auschwitz-Birkenau from Krakow?
Three ways: a tour bus from Krakow (1.5 hours each way, ~$25–$40 per person including entry), the PKP train to Oświęcim plus a local bus (~$10 round-trip), or a self-drive at 1.5 hours each way. The memorial requires an advance ticket (free) — plan a full day from the city.
Search Krakow award flights on Pointify →
Last verified by the Pointify research team on May 1, 2026, against current Avianca LifeMiles, Aeroplan, and MileagePlus award rates. LOT and Austrian partner saver inventory varies; verify before transferring miles.
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